The air outside the dungeons was damp and cold, the kind of chill that clung to the skin. Claire's steps were deliberate, her hood pulled tightly over her head to shield her face. The damp air clung to her, heavy and cold, but her focus didn’t waver. She had a mission to complete, one that couldn’t fail.

The guard was leaning casually against the wall outside the dungeon’s thick iron door, chewing on the stub of what looked like a stale loaf of bread. He straightened when Claire approached, his expression skeptical.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he grunted, squinting at her. “Dungeons aren’t exactly open to visitors.”

Claire let her...